Summer may be calling your name, but your abs might still be in hiding. Fortunately, Sharita Jennings, trainer and creator of GetFitLikeThat.com has a killer ab circuit to help you get abs you can show off in no time. Simply add this workout to your gym time, or do it alone about 3 times a week. Of course, pair this up with a healthy diet for the best results and you'll be ready to show off that snatched waist before the seasons change.
Here's the workout:
1. Weighted Sit Ups: this move will target your upper abdominals as well as your shoulders. Be sure to control your movement up and on your way back down to your mat for the ultimate ab engagement.
2. Star Sit Ups: This move is already a challenge, but Sharita takes it to another level by challenging you to keep your feet off the floor the whole time. Try to crunch up to meet your hand to your opposite foot and alternate sides. You'll feel every inch of your core on this one!
3. Figure Eights: This exercise will focus on your lower abdominals, which are a trouble zone for every living breathing person. To get even better results from this move, keep your head and shoulders raised to engage your upper abdominals as well.
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4. Side Plank Dips: Here's the move that will really snatch that waist, without any special gadgets. Get into a side plank, preferably on your feet and lift your hips high above the floor and lower without resting your hips on the floor again. (switch sides for another 30 seconds)
5. Twisted Mountain Climbers: You can't get any abs if you don't have some cardio. Pick up your heart rate with this advanced mountain climber move. Try to jump your knee to the opposite elbow and alternate knees as fast as you can.
Once you finish, aim to complete 2 more rounds of this circuit to feel that good burn all over your core!
Now, let's move on to your love handles.
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A little something to hold onto is okay. A lot of something to hold onto is another story. Love handles, the inner tube or the infamous muffin top has got to go. It’s time to stop wearing two tight shirts to cover up what you’ve been trying to get rid of. All these crazy diets and exercises might not be addressing your problem area. For those that don’t know love handles are the excess fat on the sides of your waist. Trust, this PSA is for the ladies AND fellas.
Rochelle Boykin, a certified fitness instructor and owner of Fab Fitness, offers her expertise on how to get rid of that extra jelly that plagues our bellies. Her holistic approach to a healthy life involves an active lifestyle of exercise, clean eating and meditation.
Here are 5 moves that will help you get rid of love handles and trim that waistline! Do 3 rounds of this circuit, at least 3-4 times per week and you'll start to see results within 3 weeks! Ladies, you’ll be wearing crop tops in time for those parties.
Read on and check out the video for proper form.
Low Plank Hip Dips
Position your body into a low plank position with your back straight, abs tight and elbows directly under your shoulders. Squeeze your abs super tight and...
...lower your right hips down to the ground while twisting your body. Keep both elbows down on the ground and keep the butt low. Now switch and lower the left hip to the ground. Alternate hip dips and do 3 sets of 20.
Side Plank Twists
Get into the side plank position with the left forearm, elbow and foot resting on the ground. Keeping the hips high, make sure your body is in a straight line (like a plank of wood). Now raise your right arm and reach your right arm under the left, touch the ground behind your body, then scoop the arm back up. Keep the hips high and abs very tight. Repeat the side plank twists 20 times on each side.
READ: 7 Booty Building Basics From Fab Fitness Founder Rochelle Boykin [VIDEO]
Russian Twists
Grab one weight and sit down on the ground with your legs bent and heels down. Now tilt your body back and bring the weight to your chest. Hold your abs tight and make sure your back is always straight, never hunched. Now twist your upper body from side to side and try to bring the elbow down to the ground. Alternate sides and do 3 rounds of 20.
Side Crunches
Standing straight up with your arms down and dumbbells in your hands, you're going to reach down and touch the sides of your kneecaps. Keeping your back straight and chest high, make sure you don't bend forward or back, keep your body aligned. Alternate the crunch and do 3 sets of 20. Each time you lower the right and left side counts as 1 rep.
READ: 5 Beach Body Sculpting Exercises [VIDEO]
High Plank Knee Touches
Get into the high plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders and keep your back straight. Keep your abs tight to stop your body from sinking. Now bring your right knee up to touch your right elbow, and switch to the left side. Repeat this sequence 10 times, now bring your right knee in to touch your left elbow. Alternating sides, repeat this sequence 10 times as well. That's round 1. Do 2 more rounds and you're done.
She says that you can’t only workout and expect results. Going to Chik-fil-A and grabbing a fried chicken with lettuce and tomato on it won’t do. You have to also develop a healthier palette in order to achieve results.
“Diet is everything! Abs are made in the kitchen, so watch what you eat and drink. Pick up the water and put down the soda. Avoid processed foods, fried foods and sweets,” advises Boykin.
The road to flat and fantastic abs is paved by hard work and dedication. Outside of the exercises in the video she says some additional cardio exercises will go a long way in getting that washboard stomach you crave.
“Break a sweat. Along with the ab exercises in the video, add cardio workouts to your routine. Try a brisk walk, jogging, swimming, or running for 30 minutes every day. Go take a spin class or Zumba class or Kangoo Jumps class. Any class that will get you sweating will help you lose weight around your midsection and all over your body.”
Most people associate sleep and eating with the “itis,’ but sleep is actually an essential component with weight loss. Ms. Boykin says that it’s imperative to get enough sleep in your quest to shedding excess fat.
Sharita Jennings is a fitness and travel enthusiast and creator of Get Fit Like That, LLC. She is a health policy attorney and ACE certified group fitness instructor and fitness nutrition specialist. She provides online fitness plans and leads group fitness classes in Washington DC. Check out her fitness tips and workouts at GetFitLikeThat.com.
